DUBLIN, Ireland — Irish writer Graham Linehan has accused Ireland’s public broadcaster RTE of antisemitism for airing his “Father Ted” comedy instead of the Eurovision Song Contest in protest at Israel.

As the Eurovision semifinals kicked off in Vienna on Tuesday, Ireland has been one of several countries involved in the biggest-ever political boycott of the song contest over Israel’s participation.

“I did not give my permission for Father Ted to be used as a prop in an antisemitic political gesture,” Linehan said in a social media post.

“I object to it in the strongest possible terms,” he added.

Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip prompted Ireland and four other countries — Spain, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Iceland — to withdraw from the glitzy annual extravaganza.

RTE said in December that it “feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in........

© The Times of Israel